Pneumococci: what diseases do they cause?

What are pneumococci?

Pneumococci (Streptococcus pneumoniae) are encapsulated bacteria (polysaccharide capsule) that occur worldwide and can cause dangerous diseases.

How is pneumococci transmitted?

As with a cold, pneumococci are transmitted by droplet infection, i.e. usually by coughing or sneezing. They are particularly dangerous when the immune system is already weakened, for example as a result of a viral disease or chronic diseases. Babies and small children are at greater risk of disease because their immune system is not yet able to fight off a pneumococcal infection. Infection with the pathogen can result in various diseases. A large proportion of meningitis  in childhood is caused by pneumococci. Inflammation of the lungs  (pneumonia) and  middle ear infectionscan also be caused by pneumococci.

Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) caused by pneumococci

Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs caused by microorganisms such as pneumococci. It sometimes begins without any prior illness, but it is usually preceded by an infection. Pneumonia is also possible in connection with measles . Signs of illness include:

• Accelerated, shallow breathing
• shortness of breath
• Cough (not always in babies)
• fever possible
• In some cases abdominal pain

A child with pneumonia will breathe rapidly and shallowly, and overall appear gravely ill and apathetic. You can see that it is short of breath, you can often hear it moaning, sometimes a whistling sound when exhaling. The cough is painful and may be dry and mucous. Fever does not always occur, but in some cases it can be very high (40 degrees). Younger children sometimes complain of abdominal pain. In addition, when the baby inhales, the skin over the collarbones and between the ribs tightens and the nostrils flare up. Expectorant medication, fever suppositories and, if necessary, antibiotics help to combat the symptoms, and a doctor must be consulted.

Inflammation of the meninges (meningitis) caused by pneumococci

Meningitis can also be caused by pneumococci or by other bacteria or viruses. The pathogens reach the brain either via the blood or directly from a neighboring inflammation.

• High fever
• drowsiness
• touch sensitivity
• neck stiffness
• Vomit
• Severe headache

Meningitis caused by pneumococci is usually preceded by an infection of the upper respiratory tract. Fever, vomiting and restlessness occur in infancy. A refusal to eat or seizures are also possible. In children over the age of one year, neck stiffness is typical, as are headaches and loss of consciousness. Brain damage and deafness can be long-term consequences. Pneumococci are the second most common cause of acute bacterial meningitis in children under the age of five.

If your child has meningitis, they should be hospitalized immediately. There, the spinal fluid is examined and it is determined whether it is a viral or a bacterial infection. If bacteria are the cause, an antibiotic must be given immediately by infusion. In the case of a viral infection, the therapy depends on the severity of the disease.

Pneumococcal otitis media

A middle ear infection often occurs in connection with a cold or flu , but also with measles . The pathogens (e.g. pneumococci) get into the middle ear via the connecting passage between the ear and the nose and throat, the so-called ear tube, and cause inflammation there with pus formation. The trumpet in children is still so narrow that it swells up even with minor inflammations. As a result, pus and inflammatory fluid can no longer drain out of the middle ear. Symptoms are:

• Very severe earache
• Fever
• Dull feeling in the ear
• deafness

Children with middle ear infections often complain of severe, stabbing and throbbing pain in their ears. They have a high fever (39 degrees to 40 degrees) and also hear worse than usual, they cry and drink poorly. In many cases, the eardrum bursts unnoticed and the accumulated pus runs out of the ear. The pain also disappears and the eardrum closes by itself within a few days. In the event of illness, you should definitely go to the doctor so that he can prescribe antibiotics for your child if necessary, as well as nose drops that have a decongesting effect on the trumpet.

Vaccination against pneumococci

Since July 2006, the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) of the Robert Koch Institute has recommended pneumococcal vaccination for all children . Vaccination is possible from the second month of life. The STIKO experts have been recommending since July 2009 that all adults over the age of 60 should have a one-time vaccination against pneumococci. In certain cases, this vaccination is repeated one or more times (at intervals of five years), for example in the case of chronic kidney diseases.

According to the Robert Koch Institute, children, adolescents and adults who are particularly at risk due to other diseases should also be vaccinated. Children can then do this from the age of two. These diseases include:

• Congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies (e.g. sickle cell anemia, HIV, after bone marrow transplantation, before organ transplantation and before the start of immunosuppressive therapy).
• Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases (e.g. asthma , bronchitis , COPD), metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes mellitus ), chronic kidney diseases or neurological diseases.